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Author
Topic: The Magic of Atripla (Read 17431 times)

I am sharing some good news. I started Atripla on March 06, 2009 with a viral load of 50,000 and CD4 count of 328. I did my lab 7 weeks later and I feel remarkably well to get my first lab readings since started Atripla.

CD4 count is now at 569 and V/L is 647 !!! . I am feeling great and very energize since I started meds. I never had any side effects apart from one weird dream during the first week of starting the med.

I go back to the ID doc in another 2 months time and I will be looking forward for more magic from taking Atripla.

Good to hear the Atripla is doing it's 'magic' on you~ I'm on it as well, a little over a year, and also had no reaction to it after the first few nights. I actually moved to taking it in the morning, right before I leave for work.

I too may be starting Atripla in the next month or so. Reading posts here about side effects did not calm my mind. I don't think they would have prevented me from starting but they did increase my anxiety about it. I found this article online that gives percentages with side effects.

My first night on Atripla was uneventful, except for some groggyness that lingered into the next day. I think the biggest side effect was a good one...the anxiety of starting meds was finally over! I'm hoping that tonight is as peaceful as last night.

Here is a site where people review meds. Scroll down to the bottom to click on the link to read the reviews for Atripla.

Good news..And yes you'll no doubt get better news next time I wager.Its been a while since I started meds (Oct 2005) and I can still rememberthe fear of meds was much worse than the reality of meds.Like president FDR once said "the only thing we have to fear, if rear itself".

I have been on Atripla since diagnosis (2yrs ago), my CD4s were 191, I can't remember what VL was, but after 6 mos. my CD4s were near 500, and my VL was undetectable. I have never had the side effects that most have other than my shoulder blades ached, but that subsided. I wish I experienced the "high" that I have read about. I take mine just before going to bed, so that might be the reason.

Over all I can say that Atripla has been effective and easy to stay on regiment for me. I hope you have the same results.

Congratulations on your numbers. I have been on Atripla since Nov 2008 and I must say that it has been miracle drug for me as well. After being on the meds for a total of three months, my cd4's went up and my viral load went down to undetectable. I must also state that I have not had any side effects which was one of my biggest concerns. I wish the best of luck.

I am sharing some good news. I started Atripla on March 06, 2009 with a viral load of 50,000 and CD4 count of 328. I did my lab 7 weeks later and I feel remarkably well to get my first lab readings since started Atripla.

CD4 count is now at 569 and V/L is 647 !!! . I am feeling great and very energize since I started meds. I never had any side effects apart from one weird dream during the first week of starting the med.

I go back to the ID doc in another 2 months time and I will be looking forward for more magic from taking Atripla.

for the two encouraging posts that indicated no side effects, can you guys comfort me as well in regard to facial wasting...did you witness any signs to facial wasting yet , or you were fortunate I hope in this regard as well, I hope i will have the same experience

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I have to admit : the good thing is that from now on; I have no option but to succeed , still its ok to worry

i read all post from you guys about the magic of Atripla.im very interested, coz i also want start with this medicine.i dont have any medical insurance.where do you get Atripla? and how much its cost?where all you guys from?i live in indonesia.hope i can get the answer.thx

Kagome,I think the so-called magic of atripla consists in that it is a drug combination that works very well to control hiv. There are other good therapies of 3 drugs that do this magic too.You can easily look this up in the chapter Treatment - Drugs.

Atripla consists of efivarenz ( aka EFV, Sustiva, Stocrin), tenofovir (aka TDF Viread) and emtricitabin (FTC, Emtiva), its main advantage it being a one pill once a day regimen.

You cannot find atripla in south east asia or australia (yet) but you might find the separate drugs of this combination. That will be a few more pills to take (each drug individually, rather than in one pilll) but with the same benefits. Consult your physician.

I started Atripla on April 16, 2009, and while I still haven't had another set of lab work run, I can already tell that it's doing wonders for me. It's always an encouragement to see that it's always helping someone else.

Shypoz, I am happy for you, can you share more about ur experience, I am a bad boy still resisting the meds even though I know how important they are, but my fear of side effects is abnormal and my docs are trying to normalize it.As for the friend from Indonisia, so I guess you should try to reach out to some organizations here in the US to try to look for some one who could provide you with Atripla, maybe even the company it self, Good luck

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I have to admit : the good thing is that from now on; I have no option but to succeed , still its ok to worry

Shypoz, I am happy for you, can you share more about ur experience, I am a bad boy still resisting the meds even though I know how important they are, but my fear of side effects is abnormal and my docs are trying to normalize it.As for the friend from Indonisia, so I guess you should try to reach out to some organizations here in the US to try to look for some one who could provide you with Atripla, maybe even the company it self, Good luck

Hey, Azprince-

I was somewhat concerned about starting medication as well, though not because of the possible side effects - I thought somehow that meant I was really sick, which is entirely untrue. I had major side effects for about two weeks. I ran a fever practically that whole time, and felt completely out of energy. I was still able to work, but would get into bed as soon as I got home and do little else. For those two weeks, I also had very little appetite and most anything made me feel nauseous. During that time, I practically lived on pretzels, chicken broth and ginger ale, and I had to force myself to get those in me. But after the first two weeks, the side effects begun to subside and I have reached a point where I have no noticeable side effects. I take my meds at 10 pm, just before I settle in for the day, and it's just become a part of my nightly routine. I actually sometimes look forward to it, because it means I get to enjoy a warm cup of peppermint tea with it.

Has your doctor recommended that you start medication treatment? If you don't mind my asking, what are your numbers looking like these days?

Shypoz,Yes my Doctor recommended starting it, I am 340 T Cells and 30 K Viral load, no symptoms, but I am freaking out with the Meds, I am starting school and with the meds I am worried that it will ruin my studying, I know that vantually I will have to start but its just the fact that there will be such side effects that is scaring me a lottttt!

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I have to admit : the good thing is that from now on; I have no option but to succeed , still its ok to worry

If you're getting ready to start school, the sooner you get on the meds the better - it will allow your body time to adjust before you actually have school work to do. I am working on my Master's right now, and since the side effects subsided, I have had no problems.

Don't get me wrong; this is a decision that only you can make. And I understand that each experience is different, so there's no way to know how you'll respond to any treatment until you try it. But remember that it is not an advantage to jeopardize your health.

Thank you Shy, You hit the nail on the head when you mention the concern about the Master, since I my self will be studying a Master Program and I am concerned that when I am supposed to study I will be suffering from the side effects, the other issue I guess is the fact that starting Meds is something for life or untill some Pharmaceutical company decides to make a drug that you can take once in a month which I dont think will happen any soon, so I should expect to be on Meds for the rest of my liffe which I hope will last another 20 years I hope... what I see is that when it comes to HIV its such a grey area no one has any definite answer, some say they dont have any side efffects some say they do, some say you will live a normal life some say you have only 20 years before you develope AIDS, some say there will be a cure some say its illogical to have a cure for HIV some say there will be new and better Meds some say no way we have reached the ultimate .... too confisuing, dont you think so?

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I have to admit : the good thing is that from now on; I have no option but to succeed , still its ok to worry

I can see that your mind is still going around in circles. I understand where you're coming from. But I try not to spend too much energy on the aspects of this disease that I have no control over. Instead, I try to focus on the things that I can do to make my life better - eating healthier, staying active, keeping my mind as stress-free as possible, taking my prescription on time and daily, and reminding myself prioritize. Does that make sense?

AzPrince - I understand completely. I have been poz for 17 years and am in great health, no meds and have a viral load of only 400. I am healthy as heck, no symptoms ever, active, look and feel great. Doctors cannot explain why I am doing this well, but they sure will harp on the fact I need to take meds. I sure wish I could have a doctor explain to me why after so many years I am doing this good and why I should take meds if the virus/viral load is so low.

The more I read information out there, the more I read the pros and cons about HIIV and meds (from medical journals to the "Rethinking AIDS" folks) and the more I hear doctors not being able to give me conclusive long-term factual answers, that means there is no sure thing in whether I should take meds now or later, or if ever. I sometimes wonder if I want to have my body go through the stress of meds. Even when people feel good on meds I assume there is a stress that the body is going through by being on them.

I took my first dose of Atripla last night and will not take another one until later in the week, if at all again. I have a major interview on Wednesday and there is no way in heck I am going to go to that interview feeling this dazed and dull. So I understand your point about studying

At the end of the day it is up to us as individuals. Good luck and love to everyone.

I've had a few VERY COLORFUL dreams. Apparently I dream in color and I just didn't know it till now. In one dream I was driving the Blue Ridge Parkway and for the first time actually noticed how many shades of green there were in nature. It was a bizarre dream, but nice at the same time.

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"So much has been given to me that I have no time to ponder on that which has been denied." ~ Helen Keller

I would like to know the composition of Atripla. Whether it will be available seperately or as one capsule in India? I would also prefer the generic name of drugs composed in Atripla as here it is mostly generic drugs. Right now I am on effervinz and duovir.so whether i can get seperately or as one capsule?Will be grateful for advices.

I've had a few VERY COLORFUL dreams. Apparently I dream in color and I just didn't know it till now. In one dream I was driving the Blue Ridge Parkway and for the first time actually noticed how many shades of green there were in nature. It was a bizarre dream, but nice at the same time.

This is the kind of dreams I want, nothing scary please, loll

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I have to admit : the good thing is that from now on; I have no option but to succeed , still its ok to worry

I would like to know the composition of Atripla. Whether it will be available seperately or as one capsule in India? I would also prefer the generic name of drugs composed in Atripla as here it is mostly generic drugs. Right now I am on effervinz and duovir.so whether i can get seperately or as one capsule?Will be grateful for advices.

Hi, yes Atripla is available in India, actually I my self wanted to buy the Indian online, since it is available online, but I couldnt confirm if it is the same composition and effectiveness as the one we have here, I would highly recommend that you do a google search on Atripla +India+buy...Yet I would ask my doctor about if its good to use it, I am sure that many hospitals in India will have better information , that you can even share with us !

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I have to admit : the good thing is that from now on; I have no option but to succeed , still its ok to worry

I started on Atripla on Jun 10th. The first day I felt fuzzy and thick headed, did not like that at all. By the second day that had greatly decreased. Now on the third day I feel pretty good. I was worried about the side affects and since I'm still just 3 days into this I may get others, but I feel much better about it. My doctor says that side affects from starting a new med should show and clear up in the first couple weeks.

Sometimes I think the worry and stress over something is causing harm that what I'm worrying about. Anyway I'm beginning to think that I can actually handle all this. Just have to wait for that first set of blood tests.

"Is it as effective as the original one? what did your Doctor say about it? I will be very intersted to know more about it" yes its effective as the original one. my doctor its a good. also now i feel much better.

today i went to medical centre and the price of viraday equivalent is Rs 3900. The composition is same i.e efferivenz, tenofvir and Emrpiticine.on US$ is equal of 48 rupees , so it is about 80 to 85$ for a month dose. if we uy seperately the cost will go up by Rs100 i.e by 2 $. this rate is of cipla company. the price variation of other manufacturer would be 5 % plus or minus. I was also told that if we go to wholesale dealer , then we can expect another discount of 10 to 15%. i thought of sharing this information.

genric form of Atripla instead the one I am using, although I have Insurance that will cover it still I want to stop encouraging the rocket high prices for these Meds, I feel that its our duty as consumers to act in anyway to stop this greedy appetite of the Pharma. companies So once my doctor who is an expert in his field approves it, I will switch to the Generic one at once... YES...one slap for those who are ripping us off

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I have to admit : the good thing is that from now on; I have no option but to succeed , still its ok to worry

AZPRINCE - details on how this is possible. What country do you live in. Will insurance still cover the generic. It ain't free, and has different pricing depending on your residency.

I live in the good USA , insurance will not cover it, i will pay for it out of my pocket but still it will be better than to encourage the greedy monstrous drug companies who are charging non-sense prices, I checked and basically the generic one is as good as the original one as long as you keep your blood work always in check to make sure nothing is going wrong, I would really encourage everyone to act in the same way since buying the current costy drugs will only keep them charging us the highest prices in the history of drug industry for no reason other than the fact that they are using our fear factor!

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I have to admit : the good thing is that from now on; I have no option but to succeed , still its ok to worry